The Cisco VXC 6215 provides workers with secure, real-time access to business applications and content without compromising the collaborative user experience. Cisco VXC 6215 supports the following capabilities:

By default, the firmware installed on the Cisco VXC 6215 supports desktop virtualization capabilities, but does not provide the additional voice and video functionality required for Unified Communications. To support Unified Communications, you can enable Cisco Jabber on the Cisco VXC 6215 by purchasing the Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine (VXME). For detailed information about Cisco VXME, see the Deployment Guide for Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine for Cisco Virtualization Experience Client 6125.

Supported Virtual Desktop Protocols and Applications

The following tables describe the virtual desktop protocols and applications that support the Cisco VXC 6215 base firmware and those that support the Cisco VXME.

Supported Flash Version

Cisco VXC 6215 Firmware Release 9.0 includes Flash version 11.2.202.235-21.1+1. To ensure interoperability, install Flash 11.x on the HVD. Cisco recommends you install the latest available 11.x version of Flash Player.

Related documentation

For more information, see the documents available at the following URLs:

Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine

New and changed information

Cisco Jabber with Cisco VXME

To support Unified Communications with Firmware Release 9.0, you can enable Cisco Jabber on the Cisco VXC 6215 by purchasing the Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine (VXME). With Cisco VXME, users in a virtual environment can use Cisco Jabber from their thin clients.

Changes in RSP and INI files with Release 9.0

With Firmware Release 9.0, the RSP and INI files required to push updates are different from those required with Release 8.6 and 8.7. In addition, there are two different sets of RSP and INI files required with Release 9.0, depending on the type of update you are performing.

Caution

Do not try to re-use the Release 8.6 or 8.7 RSP and INI files with Release 9.0 firmware, otherwise package deployment errors will occur.

Upgrading Devices to Release 9.0

To upgrade devices from Release 8.6 or 8.7 to Release 9.0, you must use the new RSP and INI upgrade scripts required for the Release 9.0 upgrade (for details, see Administration Guide for Cisco Virtualization Experience Client 6215).

Note

The Release 9.0 RSP and INI upgrade files still require that you include the InstallAddons parameter in the INI file in order to install add-ons, such as the Cisco VXME.

Updating Release 9.0 devices

Once you have upgraded your devices to run Release 9.0, the RSP and INI files required to push updates to these devices are different again from those used for the upgrade to Release 9.0 (for details, see Administration Guide for Cisco Virtualization Experience Client 6215).

The RSP and INI files used for Release 9.0 devices do not require that you include the InstallAddons parameter in the INI file to install an add-on. Instead, you only need to ensure that the required add-on and associated directory file are included in the add-ons folder for the package.

In summary, the order of files used for updates is as follows:

Upgrade devices to Firmware Release 9.0 using the RSP and INI files required for the upgrade.

For any future updates to devices running Firmware Release 9.0, use the RSP and INI files specific to Release 9.0 devices.

Preserve-changes setting

Following the upgrade to Firmware Release 9.0, the set-preserve-changes RSP parameter on the thin client is set to yes. With set-preserve-changes set to yes, the thin client locally caches the configuration settings during an image upgrade. In this case, the thin client maintains all existing configurations and also applies the configuration specified by the Cisco VXC Manager package that you use to push the upgrade. This is the Cisco-recommended setting.

Cisco VXC Manager GUI updates

With Firmware Release 9.0, you can use the VXC-M configuration dialog box (Application Browser > VXC-M) to manually specify which method the client uses to discover Cisco VXC Manager. By default, all discovery methods listed are enabled. For more information, see the Administration Guide for Cisco Virtualization Experience Client 6215.

VNC Server configuration

You can use the VNC Server Preferences dialog box (Application Browser > VNC Server) to manually set Sharing, Security, and Notification VNC Server preferences for use with remote administration. For more information, see the Administration Guide for Cisco Virtualization Experience Client 6215.

Application Browser modifications

In addition to the VNC Server icon, the Application Browser now also provides access to the Cisco AnyConnect client, VMware View client, and Cheese Webcam Application. For more information, see the Administration Guide for Cisco Virtualization Experience Client 6215.

Warning messages during upgrade

If devices are running at the time you deploy an update, a window appears on each device asking the user whether they want to upgrade the image immediately, or wait for 5 minutes.

Disable keyboard shortcuts

Depending on the type of application window you are using (full screen, standard, or seamless), you can use shortcut keys to manage windows.

With Firmware Release 9.0, you can now disable some of these shortcuts by including the INI parameters listed below in your INI file. By default, every shortcut listed is enabled. (Possible values for each parameter are yes or no.)

Show main panel list when keyboard focus is shifted to the thin client

Cisco.DisableKeyBinding.PanelMainMenuList=yes

Alt+Space (you can also right-click the window title bar or border, or click the window icon)

Show window menu

Cisco.DisableKeyBinding.WindowMenu=yes

PrintScreen

Print screen

Cisco.DisableKeyBinding.PrintScreen=yes

New and changed INI parameters

The following table describes new and changed INI parameters in Firmware Release 9.0. For detailed parameter descriptions, see the INI Files Reference Guide for Cisco Virtualization Experience Client 6215.

Table 5 New and changed INI parameters

BootOrder

Sets the boot order for the BIOS.

MgmtDiscoveryMethod={SRV, CNAME, HOSTNAME, UI, DHCP, STATIC, DEFAULT}

Specifies the automatic discovery methods you want to use for the automatic discovery of a thin client after failure of thin client discovery.

DESKTOPSIZE

This is an existing (not new) VMware View client connection INI parameter. The new View client version (v1.6 and later) changed the parameter values from LargeWindow to LargeScreen and from SmallWindow to SmallScreen. For backwards compatibility, the Thin Client will accept both values (new and old).

Equivalent parameter values:

LargeWindow is handled the same as LargeScreen

SmallWindow is handled the same as SmallScreen

CONNECT

This is an existing INI parameter. A change to the parameter values applies only for RDP connections. When this INI is used for individual RDP connections, a 4th keyword can be applied to specify support for NLA.

Important notes

Cisco VXC Manager compatibility

Cisco VXC 6215 Firmware Release 9.0 is not compatible with prior versions of Cisco VXC Manager. You must upgrade Cisco VXC Manager to release 4.9.1 to ensure full interoperability with Cisco VXC 6215 Firmware Release 9.0, otherwise the following functionality is not available:

Real time commands

Scheduling of packages

Manual discovery

Citrix frame rate setting

The Citrix receiver included on the Cisco VXC 6215 provides a setting (HdxWebCamFramesPerSec) that controls the default frame rate on the virtual desktop. With Release 9.0, this value is set to 15 frames per second, which differs from the Citrix default value of 5 frames per second.

Cisco VXME removal

If you install the Cisco VXME add-on on the Cisco VXC 6215 and subsequently choose to remove the add-on, rather than follow the standard process for removing add-ons, you must re-image the client using the Cisco VXC 6215 base firmware.

Poor performance with Internet Explorer 8 on Citrix connections

If the Cisco VXC 6215 experiences poor performance using Internet Explorer 8 on a Citrix virtual desktop, you can upgrade the browser to Internet Explorer 9.

Alternatively, to continue running Internet Explorer 8 on your virtual desktop, add the following registry entry on the virtual machine:

HKLM\Software\Citrix\ICA\Thinwire

Value: DisableOssForProcesses

Type: REG_SZ

Data: iexplore.exe

Caution

If you modify the registry incorrectly, you can cause serious problems which require you to reinstall your operating system. Before you edit the registry, be sure to back it up first. (See Citrix documentation for details.)

After you make the registry change, you must reset the virtual machine and the thin client for the update to take effect.

Analog microphone input not supported with VMware View

The analog 3.5 mm microphone input is not supported with VMware View.

Volume keys with VMware View

With VMware View, the volume keys on the keyboard or accessories have no effect. To change the volume while on a call, use the volume mixer on the HVD.

DVI to VGA adapter requirements

If you use a DVI to VGA adapter to connect a VGA monitor to the Cisco VXC client, use only the adapter that your device supports. Do not use an adapter that is shipped with a different Cisco VXC model because doing so can cause display issues, such as a blank monitor.

The following table shows the Cisco DVI to VGA adapters supported by each Cisco VXC model:

Table 6 Supported Cisco DVI to VGA Adapters

Cisco VXC model

Supported Cisco DVI to VGA Adapter

Cisco VXC 2111

74-9352-01 DVI/VGA cable

Cisco VXC 2211

74-9355-01 DVI/VGA adapter

Cisco VXC 2112

Not applicable

Cisco VXC 2212

Not applicable

Cisco VXC 6215

74-10414-01 DVI/VGA adapter

Hardware, software, and accessories specifications

For additional product details including hardware, software, and accessories specifications, see the product data sheets available at the following URL:

Log in with your Cisco.com user ID and password. To look for information about a specific problem, enter the bug ID number in the "Search for bug ID" field, and then click Go.

Open caveats

The following table list severity 1, 2, and 3 defects that are open for the Cisco Virtualization Experience Client 6215 using Firmware Release 9.0.

For more information about an individual defect, you can access the online record for the defect by clicking the Identifier or going to the URL shown. You must be a registered Cisco.com user to access this online information.

The defects are listed in order of severity and then in alphanumeric order by identifier. Because defect status continually changes, be aware that this table reflects a snapshot of the defects that were open at the time this report was compiled. For an updated view of open defects, access Bug Toolkit as described in Use Bug Toolkit.

Note

In the Bug Toolkit, Firmware Release 9.0 is also referenced as 11.2(027.04).

Resolved caveats

The following table lists severity 1, 2, and 3 defects that are resolved for the Cisco Virtualization Experience Client 6215 in Firmware Release 9.0.

For more information about an individual defect, you can access the online record for the defect by clicking the Identifier or going to the URL shown. You must be a registered Cisco.com user to access this online information.

The defects are listed in order of severity and then in alphanumeric order by identifier. Because defect status continually changes, be aware that this table reflects a snapshot of the defects that were resolved at the time this report was compiled. For an updated view of open defects, access Bug Toolkit as described in Use Bug Toolkit

Note

In the Bug Toolkit, Firmware Release 9.0 is also referenced as 11.2(027.04).

Documentation, Service Requests, and Additional Information

For information on obtaining documentation, submitting a service request, and gathering additional information, see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco technical documentation, at:

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